Content:

(Pa, B, LLL, VV, S, N, A, D, M) Pagan worldview with some positive moral elements, including an anti-cloning argument and an anti-gambling message; at least 42 obscenities (no “f” words), six mostly light profanities (one GD) and an obscene gesture; plenty of action violence, such as loan shark threatens to pour poison down man’s throat but is stopped, explosions, people shoot laser guns at one another a lot, people shot, vehicles crash, and vehicle tries to ram another vehicle; several sexual innuendoes such as female android programmed to bend over to pick up duster and male android leers at female androids and has one sit on his lap; cleavage and partial rear female nudity during song with Vegas-style showgirls; alcohol use; smoking; and, stealing, gambling, attempted extortion, loan shark foiled, and man poses as a police officer.

Summary:

Eddie Murphy stars in THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH as a smuggler turned nightclub owner on the moon, who fights a mysterious crime boss who wants to turn Murphy’s town into another gambling resort. Set in 2080, this science fiction comedy is not as bad as many critics are telling their readers, and it contains some positive moral arguments against cloning and gambling, but it does include many light obscenities and some sexual innuendoes.

Review:

Eddie Murphy’s latest movie, THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH, was released without much fanfare. The studio didn’t even let critics preview the movie, a science fiction comedy with plenty of action and adventure. The movie is not as bad, however, as you might assume, given these facts. It also contains some surprisingly positive moral elements, including arguments against cloning and against gambling. Set in the year 2080, Eddie Murphy stars in the title role as an ex-con who returns to the moon city Little America to see his friend, Anthony Frankowski, a bad Polish lounge singer, played by Jay Mohr. Nash helps Tony out of a jam by buying Tony’s failing nightclub and convinces Tony to reinvent himself as a space-age Frank Sinatra. Several years later, Nash’s joint is hopping and has become the in place to be. There’s trouble in moon city, however. A mysterious crime boss, Rex Crater, wants to turn Little America into another gambling resort. When Nash turns down the offer to buy his club, Crater’s goons blow up the nightclub and try to kill Nash. Escaping in a hail of laser gunfire, Nash tries to find out more information about the mysterious Crater. Eventually, he makes his way toward Crater’s casino resort for a confrontation. Helping him are his robot bodyguard, Bruno, and a beautiful singer, Dina Lake, whom Nash hired to help her get money to return to Earth. THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH suffers from some cheesy special effects and jokes, but it offers viewers an entertaining story, likeable characters and some unique settings. The melodic soundtrack also helps maintain the movie’s action adventure momentum. Murphy’s performance has been criticized for being lackluster, but he has a gleam in his eyes and a heroic compassion that is infectious and endearing. Randy Quaid offers humorous support as the robot, Bruno, as does Jay Mohr as Tony, but other performers, like Burt Young and Pam Grier, are wasted. Despite the pagan worldview in this movie, Murphy’s character helps out his friends and even strangers. For example, he refuses to trade in his robot bodyguard, Bruno, even though Bruno’s an older model. He also helps out Dina without trying to take advantage of her, even though he’s clearly attracted to her. Furthermore, the villain in the movie turns out to be a mobster who wants to convert the moon into one big gambling resort. Murphy’s hero is clearly opposed to that happening. The movie also delivers an anti-cloning message by the time it’s through. These positive moral elements are undermined, however, by the movie’s sexual innuendoes and many light obscenities, as well as one strong profanity. Also, Murphy’s character has to resort to a couple illegalities to survive, such as stealing a moon vehicle at one point. He eventually crashes the vehicle but intends to pay for it after his ordeal is over. If he survives, that is.

In Brief:

Eddie Murphy stars in THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH as an ex-con who returns to the moon city Little America to see his old friend, Anthony. Nash helps Tony out of a jam by buying Tony’s failing nightclub. Several years later, Nash’s joint is hopping and has become the “in place.” A mysterious crime boss named Rex Crater, however, wants to turn Little America into another gambling resort. When Nash turns down the offer to buy his club, Crater’s goons blow up the nightclub and try to kill Nash. Escaping in a hail of laser fire, Nash tries to make his way toward Crater’s resort. Helping him are his robot bodyguard and a beautiful singer he hired to help her get money to return to Earth. THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH is not as bad a movie as many in the press are saying. Despite some cheesy special effects and jokes, it offers viewers an entertaining story and likeable characters, with a nice melodic soundtrack. PLUTO NASH also contains some moral elements, including arguments against cloning and against gambling. There are, however, many light obscenities and some sexual innuendoes in the production.